CP Biology Name 2014-2015

UNIT 1B: Introduction to Ecology

Science is a body of knowledge and skills acquired through systematic experimentation and observation to describe natural

phenomena; or, more simply, it is a “way of knowing”. The process of science helps biologists investigate how nature works at all

levels, from the molecules in cells to the biosphere.

3.1 What is Ecology?

Biosphere: all life on earth and all parts of earth in which life exists including land, water and air or atmosphere.

Ecology: the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

Interactions within the biosphere produce a web of interde-pendence between organisms and the environments in which they live. Organisms respond to their environments and can also change their environments; therefore, biosphere is dy-namic and ever-changing.

How is economics linked with ecology?

The existence of life on Earth depends on interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. There is a great diversity

among living organisms yet there are similar characteristics that all organisms share.

Where is the biosphere located AND what does it include?__ It extends from 8km above the Earth’s surface to as far as 11km below the surface of the oceans.____________

How is economics linked with ecology? Humans live within the biosphere and depend on ecological processes to provide such essentials as food and drinkable water that can be bought and sold or traded.______________

Levels of Organization in the biosphere : (use #s to label from USG)

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*Practice Task:In the space below, fill in the blanks with the

appropriate levels of organization using the word bank below.

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Word Bank

Biome Population EcosystemCommunity Biosphere Organism

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Environment: all conditions or factors surrounding an organism

**Environmental conditions include both biotic and abiotic factors**

Biotic Factors _____ Biological (living) influences on an organism____________________________________________________________Pick any organism and name 4 biotic factors relating to it:

Organism: __deer____________1. ___grass___________________________2. ___wolves__________________________3. ___trees__________________________4. ___squirrel________________________

Abiotic Factors _____ Physical components of an ecosystem______________________________________________________________Using the same organism you picked earlier, name 4 abiotic factors relating to it

1. ___water___________________________2. ____climate / weather______________3. ____rocks__________________________4. ____oxygen_________________________

Abiotic and Biotic factors are closely linked. Many physical (abiotic) factors can be strongly influenced by the activities of organisms. The dynamic mix of biotic and abiotic factors shapes every environment.

Is a mucky shoreline around a pond strictly part of the physical

(abiotic) environment? Explain.

_____No, there are living organisms within the muck/mud (i.e.,

bacteria, algae, snails, etc.)_______________________

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3.2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers

Energy is needed to power life's processes (including growth, reproduction, metabolism, etc.). No organism can "create" energy. Organisms can only use energy from other sources. You may have wondered where this energy comes from and how it is transferred from one organism to another.

For most life on Earth, sunlight is the ultimate energy source. However, for some organisms, chemical energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds serves as the ultimate energy source for life processes.

The following are the only organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and convert it into forms that living cells can use, therefore they are essential to the flow of energy through the biosphere. They store energy in forms that make it available to other organisms that eat them.

Autotrophs: organism that is capable of capturing energy from sunlight or chemicals and use to produce its own food from inorganic compounds;

Also Known As: Producers

The next process is how the best-known and most common primary producers harness solar energy

Photosynthesis : captures light energy and uses it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

What would happen to the amount of oxygen in our atmosphere without the presence of photosynthetic producers?___ the amount of oxygen would decrease (it is a byproduct of photosynthesis) to such a low level that heterotrophs could not undergo cellular respiration!._______________

Name three examples of organisms which are autotrophs (primary producers):

1. __plants_____________________

2. __some protists – like algae

3. __cyanobacteria (formerly, blue-green algae)

Photosynthesis

Chemosynthesis: Chemosynthetic autotrophs do not need sunlight. Often they may be found in extreme environments such as tidal marshes along the coast, or around hot springs or volcanic vents on the ocean floor. Here they utilize the energy stored in chemical bonds of inorganic molecules such as hydrogen sulfide to make energy-rich carbohydrates.

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Consumers are organisms that cannot directly harness energy from the environment as autotrophs do.

Heterotrophs: organism that obtains its energy by consuming other organisms

Also Known As: Consumers

Name three examples of organisms which are heterotrophs (consumers).

1. __all animals________________

2. __all fungi__________________

3. ___some bacteria, some protists

Consumers are classified by the specific ways in which they acquire energy and nutrients from other organisms.

The type of "food" eaten may vary widely from one type of consumer to another.

Realize, however, that organisms in nature often do not stay inside the tidy categories in which ecologists place them.

For example, some animals often described as carnivores will scavenge if they get a chance.

Herbivores: organisms that obtain energy by eating plant leaves, roots, seeds, and or fruits

Carnivores: organisms that obtain energy by eating animals

Omnivores: organisms that obtain energy by eating both plants and animals

Decomposers: organisms that break down and obtain energy from dead organic matter

Detritivores: organisms that feed on detritus which are the small pieces of dead and decaying plant and animal remains

Scavengers: animals that consume the carcasses of other animals

Examples of:Herbivores: _deer, cows, squirrels____________________________________________________________________

Carnivores: __lions, snakes, dogs____________

___________________________________________________

Omnivores: _humans, bears, pigs____________________

___________________________________________________

Decomposers: _bacteria and fungi___________________

___________________________________________________

Detritivores: __earthworms, snails, shrimp, mites, crabs

___________________________________________________

Scavengers: _vulture, hyena________________________

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3.3 Food Chains and Food Webs

Energy flows through an ecosystem in a one-way stream, from primary producers to various consumers.

You can think of energy as passing through an ecosystem along a food chain. Some food chains are simple, being composed of only two steps, while others can be longer with as many as 5 or 6 steps!

Food chain: a series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

A common type of primary producer found at the base of many aquatic food chains is a mixture of floating algae called phytoplankton and attached algae.

Partially because many animals eat more than one kind of food, a single, simple food chain is usually insufficient to describe the complicated feeding relationships typically found in an ecosystem.

Food Web: network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem; a food web can also be defined as a series of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

Therefore studying a food web may be more appropriate when trying to understand the flow of energy and materials in a complex ecosystem

Example of a Food Chain

Construct a 4-step food chain below:

grass __grasshopper___ ___snake______ ___hawk_____

What do you think would happen to the ecosystem above if the

algae were killed off?___Since algae are the primary producers in

this ecosystem, providing the energy necessary for life processes

in this ecosystem, life in this ecosystem would not continue if

algae were killed off _______________________________________

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All of the animals in the food web shown to the right, ultimately depend on krill. If the marine algae population is disturbed, then there may be changes in all of the populations connected in this food web.

Killer whales indirectly depend on krill for survival.

The food web shows that killer whales depend directly on blue whales and leopard seals to obtain energy. Blue whales consume krill for energy; therefore, since killer whales consume blue whales, killer whales indirectly depend on the krill population for energy. Leopard seals consume Adelie penguins which in turn consume krill, so again, killer whales depend on krill for energy, indirectly. In addition, krill are the only herbivores in this web, so they are the only organisms that consume the primary producers of this web.

Primary producers are always at the first trophic level of a food chain or food web.

Trophic level: each step in a food chain or a food web

Food chains and food webs cannot go on forever; in other words they cannot have an unlimited number of trophic levels. Why do you think this is true? _ Only a small portion of the energy available at each level of the food web or chain is transferred to the next level (on average, 10 %). Eventually, as we move up the energy pyramid, the amount of energy transferred will not be enough to support the life processes of another trophic level.

Some might make an analogy of decomposers being like earth's "recycling center". Summarize the importance of decomposers and detritivores in food webs.Decomposers break down any dead organisms that have not been consumed into detritus. Detritivores breakdown both decomposers and the detritus that they produce to obtain energy. Without decomposers, nutrients would be locked forever in dead organisms. Instead, these nutrients re-enter the food web through primary producers; they are recycled .

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4.2 Niches and Community Interactions7

When trying to understand fully why an organism lives where it does and how it fits into its surroundings, an ecologist needs to know more than just where an organism can be found.

The NicheEach species has a range of conditions under which it can grow and reproduce; this is part of the reason why organisms occupy different places and help to define where and how an organism lives.

Each species has its own range of tolerance.

Tolerance: the ability to survive and reproduce under a range of environmental circumstances

A species' tolerance for environmental conditions helps determine its habitat (address").

Outside of optimum ranges, the organism experiences stress because it has to expend more energy to maintain homeostasis, leaving less available energy for growth and reproduction. Every organism has an upper and lower limit of tolerance for every environmental factor. Beyond those limits, the organism cannot survive.

Habitat: area where an organism lives including the biotic and abiotic factors that affect it

In addition to an "address", a species also has an ecological "occupation" - where and how it "makes a living".

Niche: the range of physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and the way the species obtains what it needs to survive and reproduce.

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Competition8

Competition: occurs when organisms attempt to use the same limited ecological resource in the same place at the same time .

Intra specific competition : competition among members of the same species . Inter specific competition : competition between members of different species .

If we look at natural communities, we rarely find species whose niches overlap significantly. Direct competition between different species almost always results in a "losing" species which dies out.

4.4 Biomes

Biomes are described in terms of abiotic factors like climate and soil type, and biotic factors like plant and animal life.

Even within a well-defined biome, there is often considerable variation among communities of plants and animals - these variations can be caused by differences in local conditions and can be greatly influenced by human activity or community interactions.

In which biome is Livingston, New Jersey located?

____temperate deciduous forest________

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*****Pgs. 112-115 of your textbook describes the major terrestrial biomes on Earth. Pgs. 117-121 describes aquatic biomes on Earth. Use this information to fill out the following biomes chart. *****

Biome Details & Climate (abiotic factors)

Type of Plants(biotic factors)

Types of Animals(biotic factors)

Tropical Rain Forest

 Hot and wet all year. Average rainfall is 2 meters per year.Temperature remains about 27°C all year. Soil is nutrient-poor and subject to erosion.

 Tall trees form a canopy 50-80 m above the forest floor. Since the soil is shallow, they have buttress roots. Small trees and vines with large leaves form the understory. Since the soil is nutrient-poor small epiphytic plants grow on the branches of trees, using the host plane as a source of nutrients.

Animals active all year; many have adapted camouflage; some change color to match surroundings. Animals that live in the canopy climb, jump and/or fly.

Tropical Dry ForestWarm year-round (22-30°C). Alternating wet and dry seasons. Rich soil subject to erosion.

Deciduous trees lose leaves during the dry season. Some plants have waxy layer on their leaves to decrease water loss; others store water in their tissues.

Some animals estivate-reduce water intake during dry periods by entering period of dormancy like hibernation; others move to areas with more water.

Tropical Grassland/Savanna/Shrubland

Warm (approx. 25°C year-round); seasonal rainfall; compact soils; frequent fires set by lightening

Plant adaptations similar to tropical dry forest plus some grasses have high silica content so are less appetizing to grazing herbivores. Grasses grow from bases, not tips, so they continue to grow after grazing.

Many animals migrate during dry season; small animals burrow and remain dormant during the dry season.

Desert

 Low precipitation; variable temperature depending on elevation and latitude (5-30°C); soils rich in minerals, but poor in organic material.

Plant adaptations include storing water in tissues, minimal leaf surface area (cactus spines are modified leaves), special forms of photosynthesis where plants only open leaf pores at night to conserve water under hot dry conditions.

 Animals obtain water from foods they eat; are nocturnal (only active at night); regulate body temp byextremities that have large surface area containing many surface blood vessels

Temperate Grassland

 Warm to hot summers and cold winters (7-30°C); moderate seasonal precipitation; fertile soil; occasional fires

 Grasses, which grow from the base, are resistant to grazing and fires. Dispersal of seeds by wind in the open environment. Deep, rich, fertile topsoil established and retained by root structure and growth habits of native plants.

Constant predation threat tosmaller animals due to open, exposed environment. Burrowing and camouflage are two common adaptations.

Temperate WoodlandAnd Shrubland

Hot dry summers alternate with cool moist winters (12-20°C); thin nutrient-poor soils; periodic fires due to plants that contain flammable oils

In open woodlands, large areas of grasses and wildflowers interspersed with trees. Chaparral areshrubland areas; plants here are woody with waxy leaves. Plants are fire-resistant; some require fire for seed germination.

Animals tend to be browsers eating a variety of grasses, leaves, shrubs, and other vegetation.Camouflage is common.

Temperate Forest(Deciduous Forest)

Cold to moderate winters and warm summers (0-25°C); year-round precipitation; fertile soils rich in humus a material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter.

Plants display 2 main adaptations-Deciduous trees lose leaves in winter; conifers have waxy needle-like leaves with low surface are that minimize water loss in the cold dry winter.

Animals cope with changing weather and surroundings by hibernation, migration and camouflage.

Northwestern Coniferous Forest(aka Temperate Rain Forest)

 Mild temperatures (5-15°C); abundant precipitation in fall, winter and spring; cool dry summers; rocky acidic soil

Seasonal temperature variation leads to less diversity than tropical rain forest. Ample rainfall supports lush, dense plant growth. Adaptations to obtain sunlight are common. Trees are among world’s tallest.

 Insects and ground-dwelling mammals use camouflage to avoid predation. Since vegetation changes seasonally, many animals are browsers and eat a varied diet.

Boreal Forest (Taiga)“boreal” from the Greek meaning northern

Long cold winters; short mild summers(-25 to 15°C). Moderate precipitation; high humidity; acidic, nutrient-poor soils

Conifers display several adaptations suited to this environment: conical shape sheds snow, waxy needle-like leaves do not lose water in dry conditions, and dark color absorbs heat energy.

Animals have adapted to stay warm with small extremities and extra fat or downy feathers for insulation. Others migrate.

Tundra

Strong winds; low precipitation; short soggy summers; long dark cold winters (-25-5°C); poorly developed soil and permafrost or permanently frozen subsoil

Low growing mosses and plants avoid wind damage; seeds are often dispersed by wind; plants have adapted to growth in nutrient poor soil; for example legumes have nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots.

Animal adaptations include migration, natural anti-freeze, small extremities to limit heat loss, and varied diets.